IT ended as always seemed likely - with England outbatted, outbowled and out of the World Cup at the first opportunity. They kidded themselves for four weeks.. that there was nothing to choose between them and the rest of the serious contenders, despite ample evidence to the contrary.

And even after Sri Lanka had blasted them into a five-wicket submission, manager Ray Illingworth was still suggesting England could beat the best.

"But if you don't get enough runs on the board you can't defend on these sort of pitches," said the chairman. "I don't think it's a black day, just a sign that some other countries have caught up. That's not a bad thing for cricket.

Caught up? On their showing in this competition, England are now so far behind they are in danger of being lapped by the likes of Australia, South Africa and Pakistan. And Sri Lanka.

Yes, Sri Lanka, the little country England decline to play on a regular basis because the marketing men cannot envisage crowds flocking to watch a team .of unpronounceable names and, as yet, limited worldwide fame.

What a shame Saturday's quarter-final wasn't staged at Lord's, or even screened live on nationwide television. A few eyes might have been opened.

England continue to make Test cricket their priority, which is fair enough, even though results every winter and most summers suggest they are getting nowhere fast.

But other countries attach equal importance to one-day cricket. And their tactics, planning and ingenuity have left England trailing in the distance.

Never was that more evident than when a left-handed opener called Sanath Jayasuriya effectively settled the contest with a 44-ball innings that yielded three sixes, 13 fours and 82 breathtaking runs.

While England scored a routine, Sunday League style 59 for two off the first 15 overs, Jayasuriya led Sri Lanka to 121 for two in the same time. That's how big the gap is.

"The 15-over rule (when only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle) is made for a player like him," said captain Mike Atherton. "You hope he misses a straight one playing across the line."

Jayasuriya didn't until, with the fastest one-day international century of all time only three more big hits away, he was stumped off the bowling of Dermot Reeve. England celebrated, but by then they were thankful for even the smallest of mercies.